It's the Monster Mash!!!

Click on the image above for full-size version.

One of my favorite sets to date! Monte's latest Artist Trading Cards offering is awesome 3D eye candy!

It might be difficult to see in these flat photos, but Monte recreated these 1950s favorite horror movie posters by taking the main image in the poster and overlaying it on chipboard before attaching it to the full poster underneath. He shadowed the edges first with black ink before gluing to the card.

The effect is a miniature movie poster with a tantalizing 3D feel to it. Too bad he's got to send these off! (But not before I snagged an extra "Creature" card!)

Put a little Zetti on!

Here is a Zetti doll I made for a swap. She's about 11 inches high and I used acrylic paints, paper and embellishments on mat board.

Trying new styles and techniques, really. I wanted to incorporate pen and ink (well, paints) a la Claudine Hellmuth. I'm also learning how to use my scanner better!








Words say: "All is well"


(Click on picture for larger image)

Can't Stop a Good Artist!

Monte's third set of ATCs! He has really come to enjoy making these little art cards and we both enjoy working on our projects together. As soon as he finished this series, which is for a swap called "Cartoons," he was chomping at the bit to join another swap (which he did tonight)!

I think I've got him hooked...

Silver Dollar City preserved

Here are two ATCs from a batch of seven I made for a swap themed "Labels and Ticket Mania."

The rule was to use some sort of authentic ticket or label on the cards, and I decided to take our family's Silver Dollar City entry tickets and turn them into some art.

The background was cut from the retail sacks I saved from Silver Dollar City -- which I love because they have that old-time newspaper look -- and I punched the tickets into the shape of tags, which can be rotated on the brad so you can see the back.

Monte strikes again!

(Click on the picture above to enlarge)

That talented husband of mine! He just keeps getting more creative all of the time! Here's his latest batch of ATCs he made for an official swap in an art group (with a hostess other than myself). Can you guess the theme?

Pay close attention to these cards -- there's such detail in them! For example, Monte used miniature -- and I mean TINY -- buttons for the checkers pieces (ATCs are only 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches).

He used miniature Scrabble tiles we happened to find in a craft supply store. The Candyland game has copies of original game pieces glued to cardstock and raised above the card with foam.

Monte used several symbolic doodads and a variety of fun pieces to highlight the theme of the various games (finding the backgrounds alone was an interesting challenge!), and he finished each card with a clever sentiment.

Great job, Honey!

Ride 'em CowGirl!

Here is my latest art doll ... a cowgirl!

She was fun to make. Instead of papers, I used fabric on her, western themed with jeans, paisley and a gingham scarf. She has a leather belt (which I cut), embellished with a metal heart to resemble a large belt buckle. Her hair is cotton doll hair and her face is a large, flat bead which I painted. You can't tell from this picture, but she actually has LARGE BOOBIES underneath the shirt, made with buttons. A crafty coworker gave me the mini-cowboy hat and, with a few stamps, that completed her look!

I love making these art dolls, they're so fun. I already sent my first one off to my assigned swap partner, but I have yet to receive one. I can't wait!

Monte's first ATC - wow!

What a fabulous job!

My dear husband decided to try his hand at making a set of Artist Trading Cards for the swap I'm hosting called "Messages of Hope." He did such a marvelous job, it looks like he's been doing these for years!

This ATC is one of nine duplicate cards. He made each by hand.

Bravo, honey!

Messages of Hope

"I am with you always, until the end of time." ~ Matthew 28:20

(written on each card above)

Here is the complete set of my "Messages of Hope" ATCs for my first swap as hostess. These cards were made in honor of my mother, Bonnie, and her husband, Ric.

So far about a dozen people have signed up to participate in this swap. Sign-ups end July 31 and all artist trading cards are due to me by Aug. 15. I've already received two sets in the mail, and they are gorgeous!

Click on image above to view a larger picture where you can see the details more clearly.

Art sustains us

Sometimes art goes beyond mere enjoyment. Sometimes it's a diversion, an outlet, a lifesaver. Such is this week's art, the pleasant, familiar comfort of an Exacto knife or a glue stick or a pen in my hand, the completion of a project a satisfactory endeavor before I go back to my routine.

Most of you are familiar with Ric, my stepdad's, health. However, we're also dealing with the precarious health of my husband's father. We found out tonight that his specific kind of blood cancer (myeloma) is back, and he was fighting for his life... UPDATE July 21: Larry's health has been improving. Certain blood cell counts have increased back to better levels, his infections are getting under control and he's been moved from the acute care hospital to the rehabilitation hospital this week. While there are no guarantees how long his health will hold out, he seems to be on the upswing, and for that, we're all very grateful. Thank you for your prayers.

All of these situations are very sad. Those of us who will be left behind when our loved ones depart must stick together in love and family support. We must embrace the things that comfort us and bring us joy. The Bible, prayers, creating things, talking with our children, our relatives, our friends. Hugs, kisses, letters, e-mails ... it must all sustain us through these emotionally wrenching times.

Having lost my 7-year-old cat, Helen, a week ago Monday, the pain of everything else is amplified even more. However, I will say one thing that I keep hearing over and over. While the people who are sick feel bad they're leaving us in all this pain, they're also ready to end the physical suffering we feel here on earth, they're ready to go be with our Lord in heaven and experience the indescribable joy that is total peace and fulfillment. They feel no dread, no sorrow, no regret about leaving this earth -- only that they are leaving us behind, sad.

In all things that are beautiful and joyful -- your smile, a flower, the things we do, make and say for others -- there is a piece of our loved ones.

The above art is one of nine different ATCs (artist trading cards) I made for a swap called "Fabulous 50s." They're all made using reproductions of authentic 1950s ads. The remainder of the cards I will post to my Yahoo group.

From Kansas with Love

Here is a Kansas postcard I altered and modified for a swap. My husband liked it so much, he wanted it!

Happy Father's Day ... and some good art too!

This year, I had four dads to account for: my dad (who enjoyed a couple of movies and some socks), my stepdad, Ric, (one of my heroes), my father-in-law, Larry, (who got a "No. 1 Grandpa" T-shirt), and my husband, Monte, who will now be the best barbecue-er in the world with his new gas grill (click here if you want to see the exact kind we got him).

The kids and I snuck around this morning before dad got out of bed and pulled the already assembled grill out of my vehicle, around to the backyard and put a tiny red bow on it. The girls made dad a card and D. had found a cool card on his own that we got him.

Monte's parents dropped by after church this morning. His dad is still weak from his bout of infections last month and had to be helped up the stairs into the house. Monte is still couch-ridden after his surgery Friday. So, both dads on the couch being catered to and we women doing everything! I'm not sure they minded that at all! Good thing we love them so much! :-)

Overall, the day was relaxing. Although I made my family some eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast, I didn't have to cook dinner, as we ordered chicken wings (bone-out) from Pizza Hut tonight, so that was nice (no dishes!) Man, that's one thing you don't think of when you have a big family: the dirty dishes NEVER end!

And one of the best things: I got to my art this evening. I started and finished the above Summer Art Doll, which I will be swapping out with a partner sometime in July. I can't wait to see what she sends me! I like this doll so much, I'm thinking about keeping her and making another one. It was pretty quick and I'd like to play with the face a little more.

Where does the time go?

Saturday is almost over and I'm left wondering where the heck the time went!

Didn't get any art done today. That could be because my husband and I slept until noon. We were shocked we slept so late and impressed the kids didn't wake us before then! We needed to sleep. Both of us are fighting sore throats.

Then we started our usual Saturday routine: going to our favorite Mexican restaurant. The kids look forward to that almost as much as we do. Then we had to go to the mall so I could get some undergarments on sale at one of my favorite stores and we also bought a couple of movies from a store going out of business (60 percent off!) and a bathing suit and some sandals for the girls.

Then we headed off to Target to get some swimtrunks and shorts for our son, who's leaving for church camp for five days tomorrow. We also got some father's day goodies and a plunger!

After that, it was home, where I did a load of laundry, fixed some dinner for the children, and went out back and played catch with our son as the girls played in the kiddie pool. Then I got the girls ready for bed, my son in the shower and he and dad then watched some TV while I packed his duffle bag for camp.

Now our boy is in bed, I'm typing this note and my husband's in his office. No time for art today! It's after 11 p.m. and I think dad and I are going to go to bed and watch some Johnny Carson DVDs.

The ATC above is an Artist Trading Card I did recently for a Jammin' Jamaica swap. Doesn't Jamaica sound lovely right now?

Welcome to Cafe Artiste!

Welcome to Cafe Artiste, a fancy little name for my newfound art space. I got the name idea from a sign I bought at Hobby Lobby a few weeks back. The fancier words "Louvre" and "Paris" also grace the sign here in my comfy art room, but I'll not be speaking French here.

I mostly want a place to post my art (and other stuff) that is easy to access. I have a private Yahoo group on which I keep my beloved artwork, but I've had several friends who were unable to navigate the red tape that is signing up for a Yahoo account and joining a group.

I've also thought it would be neat to start a journal of sorts on the trials and tribulations and joys of being a "Sudden Mom" to three stepchildren and a new wife to my wonderful husband, but I'm not sure I want to get that intimate in an open market. I'll have to think about that. Where's Erma Bombeck when you need her?

Meanwhile, I'll see how this develops!